News Comment/COMENTARI AL DIA

Mediocre Spain Minus Catalonia/LA MEDIOCRE ESPANYA SENSE CATALUNYA

Mediocre Spain Minus Catalonia

by Patrice de Beer

Rump Spain to fed-up Catalonia: “I don’t like you, I don’t understand your language, you don’t like my flag and on top you don’t let me steal from your wallet. Perhaps it should be me who wants independence.” Below: Patrice de Beer upholds the Eiffel Tower in the American channel for democracy C-Span.

The Le Monde editorialist and former correspondent in Washington and London, Patrice de Beer, warns that Spain without Catalonia will be a disaster:

“Will 2014 be the year of Catalonia as it might be that of Scotland, whose voters will decide by referendum on September 18 if they want to regain their independence after three centuries within the United Kingdom ? Five days earlier, Catalans will have taken to the streets en masse to commemorate the 300th anniversary of their own battle of Culloden, i.e. the fall of Barcelona into the hands of Spanish and French armies on September 11, 1714, and the end of their traditional self-rule and national identity. In 2012 and 2013 between one and two million people marched for independence from Spain, out of a population of 7.5 millions, slightly larger than Denmark. And, on November 9, the autonomous government has vowed to organise a referendum on Catalan residents’ “Right to decide” whether they want to become a State and, if they do, whether they would choose independence. A vote which is bitterly opposed – as unconstitutional – by the right wing PP government in Madrid as much as by PSOE opposition in the name of Spanish unity. For the moment, according to recent opinion polls, over two thirds of voters would vote “yes” at the first question and a small majority would opt for independence. Catalans distrust the behaviour of Madrid politicians who, they feel, want to curtail their linguistic rights while milking the richest economy of the peninsula. The Estatut approved by referendum has been stripped of its fundamental rights by the Constitutional Court. In a democratic country there is nothing which could not be solved through negotiations. Provided there is a common will to negotiate, i.e., to give and take. Madrid politicians, and media are staunchly opposed to a referendum which, for them, would mean secession. The two main Spanish parties, PP and PSOE, have all but vanished from the Catalan political scene. The moderate Catalan bourgeoisie, traditionally ready for compromise which would protect their business interests – and who remain, on economic and social issues as conservative as the PP – could soon be replaced by a less pliable ERC. Spain is now facing a confrontation between two conflicting nationalisms, Spanish/Castilian and Catalan. The Catalan business community pleaded with Mr. Rajoy to do away with his strategy of immobility, of sweeping the Catalan question under the carpet in the vain hope that it will eventually fade away, and to open negotiations on three fundamental issues: recognizing Catalonia as a nation, full control on linguistic and cultural issues, and fiscal autonomy. So far to no avail. The contrast with the more realistic position of the British government is glaring, which has accepted the Scottish referendum, while campaigning for a “no” vote. And moreover letting it be understood that this “no” vote could be followed by devolution of more federal powers to the Scots. Of course, both London and Madrid have been trying to frighten away voters by threatening them with expulsion from the EU, exclusion from their present currency – the Pound or the Euro – and dire economic and social consequences if they make the wrong choice. This is fair game. But, as well as independence – especially on unfriendly terms – meaning serious economic difficulties for sure, it could also be costly to Spain. And perhaps more. The Kingdom would, in effect lose its richest region, its second city and its main port, but also one of its only road and rail connections to the rest of Europe. All this could strip Spain of its place among EU major powers and reduce it to the humiliating status of a middling country. Hard for a nation which has, for centuries, considered herself a world power.”

(“Catalonia v. Spain, a Clash of Two Nationalisms,” by Patrice de Beer, Open Democracy, 14 August 2014)